"pure, unblemished"
Origin: Greek via Irish
Language: English
Caitlyn
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The Irish classic that dominated the 1990s
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Welsh
American
British
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Nicknames
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Meaning & Origin
"clear, bright"
Origin: Greek Katharos
Language: Greek
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Things to Know About This Name
- Strongly associated with Caitlyn Jenner since her public transition in 2015 — some parents may see this as positive representation, others may want to be aware of the association
The Story of Caitlyn
Caitlyn is a modern anglicized spelling variant of Caitlín, the Irish form of Kathleen, which itself derives from the Latin Catharina and ultimately from the Greek 'Aikaterine.' The meaning 'pure' comes from a folk etymology connecting it to Greek 'katharos' (pure), though the actual origin is debated. The -lyn suffix form gained popularity in the 1980s-90s American baby name boom, when parents sought fresh spellings of traditional Irish names.
Caitlyn and its many variants (Kaitlyn, Caitlin, Kaitlin) were massively popular in the US from the 1980s through the 2000s, frequently ranking in the top 100 girls' names. The name has declined since 2015, partly due to the high-profile transition of Caitlyn Jenner, and partly due to generational saturation.
In Irish culture, Caitlín is a name with centuries of use, deeply tied to Irish identity. The traditional Irish poem 'Caitlín Ní Uallacháin' (Cathleen Ni Houlihan) personified Ireland as a woman named Caitlín — later dramatized by W.B. Yeats. This gives the name a quietly nationalistic resonance in Irish literary tradition.
Historical Record
Caitlyn first appeared in US Social Security records in 1968.
Over 52,531 babies have been named Caitlyn in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Caitlyn is past its peak , currently ranked #2,348 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- The Irish poem 'Caitlín Ní Uallacháin' used Caitlín as a symbol for Ireland herself — W.B. Yeats turned it into a famous 1902 play
- Caitlyn Jenner's 2015 Vanity Fair cover was the most liked tweet in Twitter history at the time it was posted
Caitlyn in Other Languages
Irish
Caitlín
Welsh
Catrin
French
Catherine
Italian
Caterina
Spanish
Catalina
Popularity Over Time
#2,348
Current Rank
Peaked 1998
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Caitlyn
C
Caitlyn Jenner
Athlete
American Olympic gold medalist (decathlon, 1976) and transgender rights activist who publicly transitioned in 2015
C
Caitlin Moran
Writer
British author and journalist, known for 'How to Be a Woman' and music writing for The Times
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Compare Caitlyn with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #2,348
- Total SSA Count
- 78
- Cultural Origins
- Irish Welsh American British
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Cait
Kate
Katie
Cay
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, American heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Caitlyn
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Caitlyn is also used as a boy name, ranked #7371.
View Caitlyn as a boy name →Similar Names
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Germanic iv origin
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Frequently Asked Questions About Caitlyn
What does the name Caitlyn mean?
"pure, unblemished" (from Greek via Irish). "clear, bright" (from Greek Katharos). Caitlyn is a modern anglicized spelling variant of Caitlín, the Irish form of Kathleen, which itself derives from the Latin Catharina and ultimately from the Greek 'Aikaterine.' The meaning 'pure' comes from a folk etymology connecting it to Greek 'katharos' (pure), though the actual origin is debated. The -lyn suffix form gained popularity in the 1980s-90s American baby name boom, when parents sought fresh spellings of traditional Irish names.
What is the origin of the name Caitlyn?
Caitlyn has Greek via Irish, Greek Katharos, Irish, Welsh, American, and British origins. In Greek via Irish, it means "pure, unblemished". In Greek Katharos, it means "clear, bright".
Is Caitlyn a boy or girl name?
Caitlyn is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #2348. As a boy name, it is ranked #7371. Caitlyn is more commonly used as a girl name.
How popular is the name Caitlyn?
Caitlyn is currently ranked #2348 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Caitlyn?
Common nicknames for Caitlyn include Cait, Kate, Katie, and Cay.
What are good middle names for Caitlyn?
Popular middle name pairings include Caitlyn Grace, Caitlyn Rose, Caitlyn Marie, Caitlyn Lynn, Caitlyn Anne, Caitlyn Jane, and Caitlyn Elise.
What are good sibling names for Caitlyn?
Names that pair well with Caitlyn as siblings include Brendan, Declan, Siobhan, Aoife, Niamh, Conor, Fiona, and Liam.
How many syllables does Caitlyn have?
Caitlyn has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Caitlyn a common or rare name?
Caitlyn is an uncommon name, ranked #2348 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Caitlyn?
Are there other spellings for Caitlyn?
Related spellings include Caitlin.
About the Name Caitlyn
Caitlyn is a girl name with Irish, Welsh, American, and British origins . The name means "pure, unblemished" in Greek via Irish .
Is Caitlyn a boy or girl name? Caitlyn is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #2,348 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #7,371. Caitlyn is more commonly used as a girl name.
Caitlyn is currently ranked #2,348 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Caitlyn has 2 syllables, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Caitlyn include Cait, Kate, Katie, and Cay. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Caitlyn include Caitlin . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis